Minnesota lawmakers debate offering financial help to bridge victims

Legislators are considering whether or not financial help should be offered to victims of the 35W bridge collapse. According to an Associated Press report published Thursday in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Some of the complicating factors are whether or not they will be setting a precedent for victims of the next disaster, or whether they should wait until the cause of the collapse if known. Many were also concerned that bypassing the courts would be unfair to victims of other incidents who have waited years for compensation, according to the article.

Even more contentious is the perceived value of human life, and state laws limiting the amount the state can pay per victim and per incident.